FLIGHT International, 13 January 1972
and the check list should be modified to ensure that refer
ence speeds should be included as a final pre-take-off item.
The NTSB also considers that aircraft flight manuals
contain too little information about aircraft handling
following the loss of a major service, and that training in
such emergency handling should be carried out on flight
simulators.
ONE-ELEVENS FOR RHODESIA?
AIR RHODESIA is negotiating with several companies to
modernise its fleet of six Viscounts and three DC-3s by the
introduction of twin-jets, according to a Salisbury spokes
man.
BAC representatives have been in Rhodesia during the
past month, having previously maintained contact with the
airline (as an existing customer) for several years. Repre
sentatives from Boeing and McDonnell Douglas have also
been having talks with airline officials.
BAC has been negotiating the sale of three One-
Elevens, valued at about £1 • 7 million each including spares,
for delivery once the trade sanctions are lifted. In 1965
Air Rhodesia, then part of Central African Airways, was
about to re-equip with two One-Elevens when the deal
was blocked by Britain, following Rhodesia's unilateral
declaration of independence from Britain and the aircraft
went to Zambia.
An order for One-Eleven 500s or possibly 475s may
come about within six months, if the trade sanctions are
lifted by the British Government. As the situation now
stands there is nothing to stop potential British exporters
laying plans for the future legal sale of equipment to
Rhodesia.
SUPERSONIC BOARDS
MEMBERS of the BOAC board will fly in Concorde today,
January 13, and members of the British Airways Board
on January 17. The attitude of the BOAC management
towards the aircraft, a key factor in the sales programme,
was summed up by Keith Granville, BOAC chairman, in
a recent statement. He said: —
"We look forward to being able to buy Concorde, which
is a magnificent British achievement. It has long been
BOAC's policy to go supersonic as soon as it is practicable
to do so. The developments of recent days must soon lead
to proposals from the manufacturers on which we shall
base the contract negotiations which should begin shortly.
"As these negotiations proceed, we shall need and expect
Saber Air, whose major shareholder is the Singapore Government,
has been operating two charter services a week between London and
Singapore since early December. Overseas National has a 9 per cent
holding in the airline and is giving management assistance. The
company's DC-8-61, seen at Gatwick, is leased from Trans
International
53
to get the help of manufacturers and Government in
dealing with the outstanding matters that we must all
co-operate in resolving, such as operating permits at
various airports and the detailed aircraft performance and
specification."
ANOTHER NIGERIAN 707 ?
NIGERIA Airways is expected to order a second Boeing 707
for operation early next year. The airline is also studying
the possibility of acquiring two 737s (one is at present
operated on lease from Aer Lingus for assessment pur
poses). The airline is receiving assistance from Boeing,
which has made four captains and four flight engineers
available to take charge of 707 operations.
The former VC10 crews have now left Nigeria Airways
(they were not given the chance to convert on to 707s
after the airline's VC10 was lost in November 1969), and
a number of actions by aircrew for breach of contract are
pending against the airline.
LICENCE RENEWED
LLOYD International has been granted a renewal of its
"E" licence by the UK Air Transport Licensing Board. The
decision had been postponed pending further discussions
between the board and the airline on the conduct of
affinity-group charters. The ATLB said that the airline had
explained the circumstances under which it had carried
22 groups subsequently found to have no corporate exist
ence.
"We find it difficult," said the board, "to comprehend
why Lloyd were willing to sign a binding declaration as
to the genuineness of groups whilst omitting any form of
check on these groups."
Saturn Airways has appointed John A. Alexander as vice-president Europe.
lata appointed Jacques Lemaire as secretary of the traffic
conferences with effect from January 1.
The New Zealand Government has bought an F.27 from
All Nippon at a reported cost of $320,000 ($600,000 with
spares, a new engine and additional instrumentation).
Air International is on the point of acquiring a Viscount 800
and is negotiating for a Boeing 720B, the company said
last week. It operates a Viscount 700 at present. The 800,
ex-Sata, is at Dublin for a Check 4 before delivery to Air
International in March, the transaction being handled by
Templewood Aviation. The airline has signed a time charter
with the Romanian Tourist Office which calls for a Viscount
to be based in Constanta for regional charter operations
and tours in the Black Sea area.